Clifford Chance to slash 2015 trainee intake
Clifford Chance has confirmed that it will be cutting its trainee intake for 2015 from up to 120 to a maximum of 100.
The firm said the decision reflected the number of lawyers it expected to need in the UK in the coming years, and follows a redundancy round for London associates earlier this year resulting from a low attrition rate among newly qualified lawyers (NQs) (23 March 2012). The news was first reported on RollonFriday.
A Clifford Chance spokesperson said in a statement: “The new target will be to recruit up to 100 a year. This follows more accurately the number of English-qualified lawyers we anticipate needing for our English law practice in the UK and the rest of the world in a few years’ time.”
The move also sees the firm put back its announcement of NQ appointments for trainees from December to January next year.
The spokesperson added: “There’s no particular reason other than that we’re making sure that the timings for various things works together. The run-up to the end of the calendar year is usually very busy for us, and this year is no exception, and it makes more sense to make final decisions on NQs when we can give it appropriate partner time and attention.”
Clifford Chance’s NQ retention rate for September 2012 qualifiers was 77 per cent, with 50 jobs offered to 62 qualifying trainees (24 July 2012).
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Readers' comments (15)
Anonymous | 6-Dec-2012 2:43 pm
At a careers session at school last week, my 14 year old son was told that many people want to become lawyers, but only 10% will make it because there are more applicants than places. So the message is filtering down, in some places.
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Anonymous | 7-Dec-2012 9:03 pm
What does this mean for the trainee intake in 2013 and 2014? Assuming it a 120 intake, will they be much less likely to be kept on?
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Anonymous | 7-Dec-2012 10:01 pm
@ anonymous 9.43. It's always trotted out how much it costs to employ a trainee 250k i've heard.How they get to those figures can be done many ways, but put it this way all city trainees (if they're not insanely lazy) bill far more than their total cost over 2 years. Trainees are not an expense.
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Anonymous | 11-Dec-2012 11:57 am
@ Anonymous | 6-Dec-2012 1:27 pm. I, like many others managed to secure a training contract at a city firm after finishing my LPC. Of all the law graduates I know with training contracts, I have only come across one who used their 'parents' contacts' to get an interview.
Spreading that image of the profession is inaccurate and unfair, particularly to all the graduates that worked to get their tcs. The reality is that now, because of the enormous number of law graduates seeking a tc, getting one is very tough. Better advice is that if you have impeccable grades, a good degree from a good university and are willing to spend some getting commercial experience then you stand as much chance as any other good candidate. If you don't, you will find it very difficult.
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Anonymous | 5-Jan-2013 4:02 pm
Sixth formers shouldn't be worrying about training contracts! If a sixth former wishes to practice law, Clifford Chance isn't the only firm they can apply to. Of course, CC announcing that they're reducing their intake would suggest that other firms will follow suit, but this should not put those who wish to study and/or practice law off. Those who are most capable and will excel in their undergrad studies will have much less to fear about the reduction.
However, this will encourage sixth formers and first year undergraduates to get as much work experience as they can, as early as they can. Hey, free labour for high street firms.
Finally regarding the LPC and GDL, most magic and silver circle firms will reimburse the fees or part of the fees. Funding it yourself also shows firms that you are committed to the profession and thus more employable compared to a 2nd year undergrad applying for a training contract. After all, the average trainee age is 26/27.
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